Dallas Lawyers for Mental Anguish After a Car Accident
If you were involved in a car accident in Texas caused by someone else’s negligence, you know what mental anguish feels like. It feels like countless nights lying awake with worry over your financial situation. Anguish feels like hours in pain while you receive medical treatment. It feels like conversations with your spouse about how you will pay the bills when you can’t work. Anguish feels like flashbacks of the horrible moment of your accident that leave you frozen in fear. It feels like sadness and despair at missing out on those activities you used to enjoy. Others might not be able to see it on the outside. But mental anguish is real and palpable to those experiencing it.
The Dallas car accident attorneys of The Benton Law Firm understand how debilitating it can be. We have represented many individuals in Dallas and throughout Texas who have experienced unbearable mental anguish after an accident. We understand what you are going through and will aggressively pursue the compensation and support you need to get on the road to recovery. While no amount of money can undo what has happened to you, The Benton Law Firm can help you hold the at-fault party responsible for the distress their actions have inflicted upon you.
If you have suffered mental anguish from a car accident, contact The Benton Law Firm at (214) 777-7777 today to speak with one of our compassionate, knowledgeable attorneys.
What Is Mental Anguish?
Over the years, the definition of mental anguish has been interpreted and refined by Texas courts. It implies a “high degree of mental pain and stress” and involves painful emotions such as grief, despair, and disappointment that would cause significant disruption to your life.
After a car accident, mental anguish might include the following:
- Pain and suffering, whether physical, mental, or emotional
- Post-traumatic stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship/support
Who Can Sue for Mental Anguish?
If you were injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you might be able to recover compensation for mental anguish related to your injuries. Even with severe injuries, proving mental anguish can be challenging. That is why you need to hire an attorney knowledgeable about the law and with a track record of proving it in car accident cases.
You might be able to sue for mental anguish if you acquire a new mental health condition due to your accident, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or some other condition you didn’t have before. You’ll need to demonstrate through medical records that you haven’t had the condition before, that your medical provider has diagnosed you with the condition, and that it requires treatment.
Alternatively, if you had a mental health condition before the accident and the crash aggravated or exacerbated your condition, you may be able to obtain compensation. Your medical caregiver’s records must demonstrate how your condition was altered by accident, and the difference between your pre- and post-accident conditions must be significant.
How Do You Prove It?
The Benton Law Firm appreciates that mental anguish can be very real and life-altering for individuals experiencing it after a car accident. However, proving it in a personal injury lawsuit can be challenging. Even so, The Benton Law Firm’s attorneys are not afraid to take on these cases because we have the experience and knowledge necessary to pursue the compensation you deserve from the responsible party.
There must be evidence of mental anguish to a degree that disrupts your daily routine to prove mental anguish. It is much more than simply saying that you feel it. The following evidence may help prove mental anguish:
- Personal testimony on the degree, nature, and duration of your mental anguish
- Testimony from family and loved ones on how the accident has impacted your life
- Medical records showing new or increased treatment for mental anguish, such as prescription drugs or therapy
- Expert testimony on the mental and emotional impact of car accidents and of the effect the accident you were involved in had on you, in particular
- Physical manifestations of mental anguish include insomnia, anxiety or panic attacks, elevated blood pressure, etc.
While mental anguish can be related to mental health, Texas courts typically do not require a mental examination to prove it, except when “good cause” for a compelled examination is shown.
How Much Can I Recover?
There is no specific formula for calculating how much compensation you can recover. The amount will depend on several factors, including the extent and duration of your it, the available proof, and the potential for ongoing and future mental anguish.
The best way to estimate how much you might recover from your mental anguish in a personal injury claim or case is to speak with an attorney who knows the law and has significant experience in handling these cases. A skilled attorney can review your case, analyze the evidence available, and provide a good assessment of the value of your case.
Contact The Benton Law Firm Today
One of the problematic things about suffering mental anguish after a car accident is how incapacitating it is. It can seem impossible to do anything else when you are suffering from it. That’s why hiring an experienced and compassionate car accident attorney to represent you is essential. The Dallas car accident attorneys of The Benton Law Firm have counseled many Texas clients through impossible situations. Let us handle your case while you focus on your health.
Contact The Benton Law Firm today at (214) 777-7777 to learn how we can help you through these difficult moments. Let us get started on your case and pursue the compensation you deserve.